Blog Archives
Tales of Adventure
Slickrock weaves together the paths of a loner who discovers a body in a granary and a college student who is roped into a scheme by a crew bent on revenge. Where did the idea for this story come from?
The remote wild country in Canyonlands National Park seemed like a great place to store a kidnap victim while waiting for the ransom, and it was also perfect for the intervention by “Relic,” the moonshining hermit of Canyonlands.
How do you balance story development with shocking plot twists? Or can they be the same thing?
One builds naturally into the other, especially when a character is cornered by circumstance and their own choices.
Do you have a favorite moment in Slickrock? One that was especially fun to craft?
That’s a tough question. Maybe the scene where Relic fools the shooter into thinking the deputy is already dead.
Can we look forward to more work from you soon? What are you currently working on?
Yes, I really enjoy writing about the moonshining hermit and tales of adventure and intrigue in the desert outback!
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Malia is kidnapped and held in an old trailer in a remote canyon. When a gin-brewing recluse named Relic rescues her, an investigating deputy teams up with a hunter who is not who he claims to be… Malia and Relic must survive a deadly shoot-out, evade their pursuers, and warn the deputy before it’s too late. But someone in town is helping the bad guys. And a trip-up in their plan only makes them more determined and lethal…
Slickrock
Slickrock blends a fast kidnapping thriller with a rugged, sun-bleached wilderness adventure. The story kicks off when Relic, a loner and moonshiner who haunts Utah canyon country, discovers a body in a fake granary. At the same time, college student Malia is yanked from a nightclub and dragged into a scheme run by a revenge-hungry crew. Sheriff Leavitt and Deputy Dawson try to track down a missing ranch hand, but their investigation collides with the kidnappers’ plans. The book jumps between these threads until everything crashes together in Slickrock Canyon, where desert storms, gunfights, and raw survival force each character to show who they really are.
The pacing moves fast, like the book can’t wait to shove you around the next corner. I really liked the way the author paints the canyon. It feels hot and harsh and alive in a way that made me thirsty just sitting on my couch. Relic ended up being my favorite part of the book. His quiet grit sneaks up on you, and the way he tries to help Malia even though the whole mess has nothing to do with him makes him feel grounded and real. I also liked how the author lets scenes breathe just long enough before snapping into chaos. It kept me on my toes, and I didn’t mind that one bit.
The villains are nasty, but a few of their scenes felt over-the-top. Malia’s storyline pulled me in, especially the terror and confusion she feels early on, but I sometimes wanted more space inside her head instead of being rushed along. Still, when the story drops her into the wilderness with Relic, everything tightens up again. Their scramble through canyon forks and flash floods has a wild, sweaty energy. The writing hits hardest when it sticks to people running for their lives under a huge sky.
The book is punchy and dramatic. If you like thrillers that sprint rather than stroll, or if you enjoy survival stories set in wide open desert country, this one will probably scratch the itch. It’s especially good for readers who love a mix of crime, action, and a little rough humor. And if you’re the type who likes rooting for the stubborn, dusty outsider who’d rather avoid everyone but still ends up saving the day, Relic alone makes the journey worth it.
Pages: 300 | ASIN : B0G1CD2S61
The History of Mankind
Desert Guardian follows a young man on a post-graduation trip, who literally falls into a hidden world of illegal artifacts, danger, and unexpected friendships. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The grandeur and other-worldly feel of the gorges, rivers, and hoodoos of Canyonlands National Park provided the inspiration for the set-up of this story.
What were some ideas that were important for you to personify in your characters?
Ethan is a “reluctant hero,” dropped into the setting by accident, so one of his main themes was finding the strength to persevere, uncover the theft of ancient artifacts, and fight not only for his own survival but for that of newfound friends.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Our relationships with the earth, wilderness, and the history of mankind are themes in the novel. The thieves see the artifacts not as precious history but as something to be exploited. Relic, and eventually Ethan, see their connections with the past and the place that shaped it and work to protect them.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I have a total of six Relic novels and am working on the seventh. It is not likely to be ready for another year or so.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Get ready for an epic adventurous thrill ride into danger and murder
A moonshining hermit. A campus bookworm. A midnight murder. Can an unlikely duo and a whitewater crew save themselves and an ancient Aztec battlefield from deadly looters? Ethan’s world turns upside-down when he slips off the edge of red-rock cliffs into a world of twisting ravines and coveted artifacts. Saved by a mysterious desert recluse named Relic, Ethan must join a whitewater rafting group and make his way back to civilization. But someone in the gorge is killing to protect their illegal dig for ancient treasures… When Anya, the lead whitewater guide, is attacked, he must divert the killer into the dark canyon night, but his most deadly pursuer is not who he thinks… Ethan struggles to save his new friends, face his own mortality, and unravel the chilling murders. But when they flee the secluded canyon, a lethal hunter is hot on their trail…
Changing Lives
Against the Wind follows a sixteen-year-old girl living in foster care who runs away and steals an antique airplane, leading her to meet a quantum physics professor also on the run from the FBI and Russian mafia. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I’ve been a licensed pilot for nearly 28 years, but I’ve been flying with my father since I was a small child. He had his pilot’s license at the age of 16 and I’ve known of young pilots flying cross country and have always been impressed with that! As for the quantum physics aspect of the novel, the science behind it is absolutely amazing! Quantum computers will change our lives forever!
Your characters are wonderfully emotive and relatable. Were you able to use anything from your own life to inform their character development?
I think most authors have a storehouse of characters and character traits to call on when writing. Any teenage cross-country pilot shows remarkable independence and, in the case of Against the Wind, real courage. I wanted the physics professor to learn as much from her as she did from him!
I felt that there were a lot of great twists and turns throughout the novel. Did you plan this before writing the novel, or did the twists develop organically writing?
For me, it’s usually a mix. Certain key twists must be planned and others evolve in the course of the writing.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am working on the next “Relic” book, featuring the moonshining hermit of Canyonlands National Park (see Moonshine Mesa for example). Thought a “series,” each novel is stand-alone.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Book Reivew
Chloe flees her unsafe foster home in a stolen antique airplane. Professor Dochauser eludes a Russian spy willing to kill for the professor’s breakthrough in quantum computing. When their paths collide, they begin a cross-country quest to find Chloe’s grandfather and a safe haven for the professor. The Russian mafia, FBI, and social services race to find the runaway and the quantum prototype that can tip the balance of world power.
But not everyone in the chase is who they seem…
#TechnoThriller #OrganizedCrime #RussianMafia #CrimeThrillers #EspionageThrillers #FlyingAirplaneThrillers #YoungFemalePilot #QuantumComputerThriller #ActionThriller #ActionAdventure #CrossCountryChase #Adventure #FlyingAdventures #ThrillerMystery #TechnoMystery #Heartwarming #Humour&Adventure
Desert Guardian
Desert Guardian by A.W. Baldwin is an action-packed adventure set against the vast and rugged backdrop of the American Southwest. The story intertwines past and present, starting with a flashback to a Pueblo ambush on Mexica warriors in 1224 A.D. This historic tension sets the stage for the modern-day narrative, where Ethan, a young man on a post-graduation trip, literally falls into a hidden world of illegal artifacts, danger, and unexpected friendships. After surviving a bike accident, Ethan is saved by Relic, a desert hermit, and the two forge an unlikely bond as they navigate the harsh desert and the shady underworld of artifact smugglers.
The author perfectly captures the wild beauty of the desert, making it a character in its own right. The descriptions are vivid. Baldwin writes with a clear reverence for the setting, and that love of the environment adds depth to the story’s more intense moments. The setting is well-crafted, but the dialogue and character development, at times, feel less polished. Ethan’s internal monologues occasionally lean toward melodrama, particularly when he reflects on his near-death experience, which may momentarily disrupt the immersion. Relic’s gruff yet wise personality shines through, especially in moments where he imparts desert survival tips or shares cryptic advice.
The pacing of the novel is generally quick, with moments of introspection balanced by bursts of action. The scenes involving the artifact smuggling ring are tense and engaging, especially as the reader starts to unravel how deep the conspiracy goes. Boss, the antagonist, is suitably ruthless, and his cold demeanor makes for a chilling counterbalance to the more humane characters like Relic and Ethan. The subplot involving ancient Pueblo petroglyphs and hidden trails gives the novel an air of intrigue that kept me flipping pages, wondering how all the pieces would connect.
Desert Guardian is an entertaining adventure novel for those who enjoy thrillers with a historical twist and a strong sense of place. Baldwin’s love for the desert landscape shines through, and the fast-paced plot will appeal to adventure lovers. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories about survival, hidden treasures, and characters who live by their own rules in the unforgiving wilderness.
Pages: 209 | ASIN : B08MB6XL8S
Against the Wind
Against the Wind by A.W. Baldwin spins an electrifying tale of adventure, danger, and unlikely partnerships. The story centers around 16-year-old Chloe, who has a lot on her plate. She’s desperate to escape her sketchy foster parents and even more determined to steal a plane to visit her grandfather. But will her daring plan work out? At the same time, Professor Dochauser is deeply involved in a high-stakes quantum physics project, research that holds the potential to change lives. However, a relentless “journalist” will stop at nothing to steal the professor’s work. It doesn’t take long for Chloe and the professor to realize that if they want to survive, they’ll need to rely on each other, because failure—or death—is not an option.
Chloe, the novel’s fiery protagonist, is a sassy, well-crafted character who brings a spark to every page. Readers will be drawn to her wit and resilience. The professor, while flawed, is equally compelling—a brilliant yet endearing figure that you can’t help but cheer for. Together, they face a series of thrilling, life-threatening situations, and the chemistry between them keeps the story’s momentum strong. The pacing is spot-on, with a tone that balances tension with bursts of humor. Set primarily in the sky, the story’s high-flying action will make readers dream of becoming pilots themselves. The stakes are high from the start—being shot at in a plane is just one of the pulse-pounding moments that makes this novel hard to put down. Yet, amid the danger, there are moments of beauty and human connection, such as when Chloe and the professor meet kind-hearted strangers on their journey to Spokane. The story also touches on the darker side of life, especially in Chloe’s struggle with her foster parents, who are anything but ideal. There’s an underlying sadness in her story, but it never overshadows the fierce drive that pushes her forward. Meanwhile, the looming threat of a mysterious antagonist—willing to go to any extreme to seize the professor’s secrets—keeps the tension high.
Against the Wind is a fast-paced, action-packed thrill ride that blends danger, humor, and heart. With its engaging characters, sky-high adventures, and nail-biting twists, this is a story that readers will devour and thoroughly enjoy!
Pages: 322 | ASIN : B0DHV3G316
Contrasts Erupt Into Humor
Raptor Canyon follows a gin-brewing recluse, who witnesses a murder, and sets out to investigate what is happening in the canyon. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Discovering ancient petroglyphs in unexpected places off-trail sparks curiosity and imagination: What do some of these unusual shapes mean? Is it possible that some depict extinct dinosaurs? This possibility inspired this key question in Raptor Canyon.
All of your characters are unique, and readers would not automatically expect them to be put together in a story. What was your approach to writing the interactions between characters?
Conflict and contrast between characters display their personalities and also shove the story forward, sometimes in surprising ways. I like to let the contrasts create conflict. I especially like to let those contrasts erupt into humor.
Your novel takes readers through some hair-raising action at times. How did you balance the action scenes with the story elements and still keep a fast pace in the story?
I think the story elements often happen best when the characters are running for their lives. I think you have to tell the story through the action.
What will the next book in that series be about, and when will it be published?
The Relic novels are not a “series,” strictly speaking. Sometimes I refer to them as a series, so readers know they are closely related, and involve the same key character, but each is a “stand alone” novel. The next is Moonshine Mesa, set to be released later this month.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
As a fresh graduate, Wyatt is anxious to make his mark among the army of lawyers in a respected Denver law firm. When his boss invites him to tour a client’s development project bordering Canyonlands National Park, Wyatt jumps at the chance, but his boss is not what he seems…
When a treacherous security chief tries to kill Relic, Wyatt is caught in the deadly chase. An unusual pair, Wyatt and Relic must tolerate each other while fleeing through white-water rapids, remote gorges, and hidden caverns. Relic devises a plan to save the treasured canyon but Wyatt must come to terms with the cost to his career if he fights his powerful boss…
A college student with secret ties to the site, Faye joins the kitchen crew so she can spy on the enigmatic project. She catches Relic and Wyatt red-handed, preparing for action. But when she hears their desperate plan, she has a decision to make…
Armed with a full box of toothpicks (and a little dynamite), can the unlikely trio monkey-wrench the corrupt land deal and recast the fate of Raptor Canyon?
A Kinship With the Earth
Moonshine Mesa is the story of the intriguing connection between a lawyer, a moonshiner, and a deputy, all of whom are embroiled in a gripping environmental mystery. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
This growing technology – carbon sequestration – often reveals conflicting values and reactions and, at the moment, massive amounts of federal and other funding. Each character has a different approach to the project based on their own objectives. When those clash together, things get really interesting.
What was your favorite character to write for and why? Was there a scene you felt captured the character’s essence?
I guess my favorite is “Relic.” One scene is when he essentially says to the aspiring lawyer: “no, we are not humans in search of a spiritual experience…we are spirits having a human experience.” That encapsulates his approach to the other characters, the majestic canyons he wanders, and the bad guys who threaten both.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Moonshine Mesa?
That we are all in a deep kinship with the earth.
Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?
Hard to say for sure. I would like a follow-up to see if Deputy Dawson and Relic ever get to team up to solve a crime….
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Criminal clients, a pollution mitigation scam, and a million-dollar double-cross make Moonshine Mesa a dangerous place for an aspiring lawyer, an intrepid deputy, and a moonshining hermit.
Something is killing bees, crows, and humans at Moonshine Mesa. When Parker finds suspicious readings at a remote pump station, clients of a prestigious law firm prepare to toss him off a cliff. A gin-brewing recluse named Relic saves him and together they must solve the mysterious deaths, outmaneuver armed drug runners, and rescue an intrepid deputy dedicated to solving the crimes. And all is not what it seems between the partners in these lethal schemes…
Can they unravel these baffling deaths and stem the environmental carnage?
LITERARY TITAN 